Intra-articular pressure determination in horse

The aim of the present study is to evaluate the intra-articular pressure in horses with distal forelimbs chronic lameness in order to obtain indication about the\ud diagnostic significance of pressure variations. Fifty-six distal interphalangeal (DIP) joint of the forelimbs of 36 horses were investigated by a clinical and radiographic examination and by measuring the pressure with a hand held digital manometer. Forty coffin joints of sound horses were used as a control. The pick pressure was registered for each articulation. The middle pressure measured with the sound horse bearing weight on both limbs was 36.8 mmHg +/-16.0 and 69.6 mmHg +/- 27.3 when the contralateral was lift up. For the diseased horse the middle pressure measured in the two position was 66.5 mmHg +/-7.6 and 132.8 mmHg +/- 43.3 respectively. This result indicates that intra-articular pressure values of the coffin joint are higher in horses with a painful condition of the distal portion of the fore foot.\ud Anyway, our ranges resulted higher than whose indicated in other reports.\ud No correlation have been found between articular pressure and kind of radiographic changes of the DIP joint or of the distal sesamoid bone.\ud Pressure measurement could be considered a useful aid to localize a pathologic condition involving the DIP joint or the navicular bone, but the technique shows some limitation: it seems to be more reliable for diagnosis with both limbs weight bearing because low specificity arises with the contralateral lifted up.\ud No weight, breed or attitude differences were detected among sound horses. No complications have been reported neither during the examinations nor through the follow-up .\ud Pressure measurement is an easy, safe, useful and relatively cheap procedure that doesn’t need of the horse hospitalization

Transrectal ultrasonography of the adrenal glands in donkeys (Equus asinus)

Little information is available for medical imaging in donkeys and no report about adrenal glands ultrasonography can be found in scientific literature. The feasibility of transrectal ultrasonography of the adrenal glands was tested on 30 healthy donkeys using a 10 MHz linear transducer. Mean age of animals was 10.7 ±4.8 years, mean weight 275.0 ±62.9 Kg and mean height 126.7 ±7.1 cm. The left adrenal gland was visualized in all donkeys. The right gland ultrasonography was not feasible in seven animals with a height less than 116 cm. The left gland was visualized as a linear or slightly curved structure, the right gland was most often S-shaped. In both glands, an hypechoic peripheral zone was identified as the cortex with an inner, hyperechoic medulla. The length was 5.49 ±1.90 cm and 5.15 ±1.10 cm for right and left gland, respectively. Right gland whole and medullary thickness were 0.71 ±0.11 cm and 0.24 ±0.09 cm, 0.65 ±0.13 cm and 0.21 ±0.07 cm, 0.56 ±0.17 cm and 0.25 ±0.07 cm for cranial pole, middle point and caudal pole respectively. Left gland whole and medullary thickness were 0.69 ±0.13 cm and 0.25 ±0.09 cm, 0.66 ±0.13 cm and 0.23 ±0.09 cm, 0.57 ±0.15 cm and 0.26 ±0.09 cm for cranial pole, middle point and caudal pole respectively. There was a significant correlation between height and the entire length of the left gland. Ultrasonography of the adrenal glands is a suitable tool for evaluation of both adrenal glands in most of the donkey. The size is a limiting factor for proper visualization of the right gland

Effects of Single-Dose Prucalopride on Intestinal Hypomotility in Horses: Preliminary Observations

Abnormalities of gastrointestinal motility are often a challenge in horses; however, the use of prokinetic drugs in such conditions must be firmly established yet. For this reason we carried out a preliminary study on the effects of prucalopride on intestinal motor activity of horses with gut hypomotility. The effect of prucalopride per os by oral dose syringe (2 mg/100 kg body weight) was assessed by abdominal ultrasound (evaluating duodenal, cecal, and colonic motor activity) in six horses with gut hypomotility. After administration of prucalopride, a significant increase of contractile activity was found in the duodenum at 30 minutes (p = 0.0005), 60 minutes (p = 0.01) and 90 minutes (p = 0.01), whereas in the cecum and in the left colon the increase was only present at 60 minutes (p = 0.03, and p = 0.02, respectively). No changes from baseline heart and respiratory rate or behavior side effects were observed after administration of the drug and throughout the observation period. Prucalopride may be a useful adjunct to the therapeutic armamentary for treating hypomotile upper gut conditions of horses. Dosing information is however needed to establish its actual clinical efficacy and its proper effects on the large bowel in these animals

Transrectal ultrasonography of the adrenal glands in donkeys (Equus asinus)

Little information is available for medical imaging in donkeys and no report about adrenal glands ultrasonography can be found in scientific literature. The feasibility of transrectal ultrasonography of the adrenal glands was tested on 30 healthy donkeys using a 10 MHz linear transducer. Mean age of animals was 10.7 ±4.8 years, mean weight 275.0 ±62.9 Kg and mean height 126.7 ±7.1 cm. The left adrenal gland was visualized in all donkeys. The right gland ultrasonography was not feasible in seven animals with a height less than 116 cm. The left gland was visualized as a linear or slightly curved structure, the right gland was most often S-shaped. In both glands, an hypechoic peripheral zone was identified as the cortex with an inner, hyperechoic medulla. The length was 5.49 ±1.90 cm and 5.15 ±1.10 cm for right and left gland, respectively. Right gland whole and medullary thickness were 0.71 ±0.11 cm and 0.24 ±0.09 cm, 0.65 ±0.13 cm and 0.21 ±0.07 cm, 0.56 ±0.17 cm and 0.25 ±0.07 cm for cranial pole, middle point and caudal pole respectively. Left gland whole and medullary thickness were 0.69 ±0.13 cm and 0.25 ±0.09 cm, 0.66 ±0.13 cm and 0.23 ±0.09 cm, 0.57 ±0.15 cm and 0.26 ±0.09 cm for cranial pole, middle point and caudal pole respectively. There was a significant correlation between height and the entire length of the left gland. Ultrasonography of the adrenal glands is a suitable tool for evaluation of both adrenal glands in most of the donkey. The size is a limiting factor for proper visualization of the right gland

Flupirtine: Preliminary Pharmacokinetics in the Donkey

Flupirtine (FLU) is a nonopioid analgesic drug with no antipyretic or antiphlogistic effects labeled for humans. It does not induce the side effects associated with the classical drugs used as pain relievers (Non steroidal antiinflammatory drugs and opioids) in human beings. The aim of this study was to evaluate the pharmacokinetic profiles of FLU after IV and PO administrations in healthy donkeys. Six Amiata breed adult jennies were randomly assigned to two treatment groups using an open, 2 × 2 Latin-square crossover study design. Group 1 (n = 3) received a single dose of 1 mg/kg of FLU injected IV into the jugular vein. Group 2 (n = 3) received FLU (5 mg/kg) via nasogastric tube. The washout period was 1 week. Blood samples (5 mL) were collected at 0.083, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1, 1.5, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 24, 36, and 48 hours, and plasma was then analyzed by a validated high-performance liquid chromatography method. No adverse effects were noticed in either administration group. After IV and PO administrations, FLU was detectable in plasma for up to 24 hours. The mean elimination half-life was longer after PO (10.81 hours) than after IV (0.90 hours) administration. The clearance was fast, and the area under the plasma concentration–time curve was small, findings consistent with a low PO bioavailability of about 20%. The pharmacokinetic trend of FLU in donkeys was different from those earlier reported in cats and dogs. Further studies are needed to understand if this active ingredient may be used in donkeys

Metastatizing ovarian Carcinoma in an eurasian brown bear (Ursus Arctos Arctos): a case report.

A case of ovarian carcinoma, never previously reported in bear is described. A 37-year-old, nulliparous, female Eurasian brown bear hosted at the Falconara Parco Zoo in Italy, showed neurological clinical signs including bilateral blindness and signs of hemiparesis involving both limbs of the left side. A therapy based on fluid, dexamethasone sodium phosphate, ranitidine, ceftriaxone, propentofylline, and a vitamin B complex administration was started after the onset of sintomatology. After about a week of therapy the bear was able to stand up and walk, partially recovered the vision and ate regularly. Despite this initial improvement, three weeks after the clinical onset the bear died. At necropsy a large mass involving the left ovary and brain metastases has been found. Based on the typical histological and immunohistochemical features of neoplastic cells, this tumor was diagnosed as papillary to solid serous type ovarian carcinoma. Because of the scattered distribution pattern of neoplastic nodules, the involvement of the brain and lombo-aortic lymph node was considered to be metastatic. Only few reports of neoplasms in Ursidae can be found in scientific literature and these include lymphosarcoma, osteoma, osteosarcomas, chondrosarcoma, squamous cell, biliary, thyroid, mammary, and hepatocellular carcinomas. According to these results, the presence of tumor should be considered in bears with neurological signs

Effect of Thiamine Pyrophosphate (Bicarbossilasi®) Administration on the Exercising Horse Metabolism

Thiamine pyrophosphate (TPP) is the phosphorylated and active form of thiamine (Vitamin B1). We hypothesized that the administration of thiamine in its immediately available active form could provide the metabolic pathways for a supplement able to promote the metabolism of ketoacids and to reduce lactate accumulation in exercising horses. Ten horses were conditioned for 20 days to daily standardized exercise. All horses underwent a first “stress test” (ST) consisting in 1,200 meters at maximum speed on track, and were checked before and after for clinical and clinical pathology parameters. After the ST, the same animals were administered TPP (Bicarbossilasi®, ©Teknofarmas.p.a., Torino, Italy), 1 mg/Kg b.w., I.V., twice daily for seven days. At the end of treatment, a second stress test (STTPP) was performed. Post-exercise serum lactate concentration resulted in significantly lower levels (p< 0.05) after treatment with TPP (ST vs STTPP). These data suggest that supplementation with thiamine in its active form improves glucose metabolism and prevents lactate accumulation in muscle, enhancing aerobic capacity and metabolic pathways of glucose utilization during exercise

PCR real time assays for the early detection of BKV-DNA in immunocompromised patients

Testing for viral BKV-DNA in urine is a non-invasive early detection and monitoring tool in the diagnostic of BKVrelated pathologies: quantitative analysis by Real-Time PCR can provide useful information in addition to cytologic analysis, although our study suggests that high BKV viruria is not necessarily associated with kidney or bladder damage

Human Papillomavirus-16 E7 Interacts with Glutathione S-Transferase P1 and Enhances Its Role in Cell Survival

Background:Human Papillomavirus (HPV)-16 is a paradigm for "high-risk" HPVs, the causative agents of virtually all cervical carcinomas. HPV E6 and E7 viral genes are usually expressed in these tumors, suggesting key roles for their gene products, the E6 and E7 oncoproteins, in inducing malignant transformation.Methodology/Principal Findings:By protein-protein interaction analysis, using mass spectrometry, we identified glutathione S-transferase P1-1 (GSTP1) as a novel cellular partner of the HPV-16 E7 oncoprotein. Following mapping of the region in the HPV-16 E7 sequence that is involved in the interaction, we generated a three-dimensional molecular model of the complex between HPV-16 E7 and GSTP1, and used this to engineer a mutant molecule of HPV-16 E7 with strongly reduced affinity for GSTP1.When expressed in HaCaT human keratinocytes, HPV-16 E7 modified the equilibrium between the oxidized and reduced forms of GSTP1, thereby inhibiting JNK phosphorylation and its ability to induce apoptosis. Using GSTP1-deficient MCF-7 cancer cells and siRNA interference targeting GSTP1 in HaCaT keratinocytes expressing either wild-type or mutant HPV-16 E7, we uncovered a pivotal role for GSTP1 in the pro-survival program elicited by its binding with HPV-16 E7.Conclusions/Significance:This study provides further evidence of the transforming abilities of this oncoprotein, setting the groundwork for devising unique molecular tools that can both interfere with the interaction between HPV-16 E7 and GSTP1 and minimize the survival of HPV-16 E7-expressing cancer cells. © 2009 Mileo et al